Let's go four it, Toon

Alan Pardew says Newcastle are now hunting Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot

It’s a great opportunity now and hopefully we can achieve something special

Alan Pardew

The Toon’s 2-0 win at Blackburn lifts them above Liverpool and Arsenal in the table with Andre Villas- Boas’ fourth-placed side now in their sights.

And rather than look over their shoulders, Pardew (left) insists the Geordies’ new challenge is to overhaul the London club and go gunning for Europe.

He said: “We’ve got to keep it going and chase down Chelsea.

"It’s a great opportunity now and hopefully we can achieve something special.”

Newcastle were relegation contenders according to some critics following the sales of Jose Enrique, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton.

And even when they went 11 games unbeaten at the start of the season, few predicted they could last the pace. Pardew always believed his squad was capable of a top-half finish but even he confesses they’ve exceeded his wildest expectations.

Despite a blip late last year, Pardew’s men have defied the pessimists and are now on course for their best finish since the days of Sir Bobby Robson.

Though Newcastle rode their luck at Ewood Park on Wednesday night, victory was achieved without 15-goal top scorer Demba Ba, new signing Papiss Cisse and the banned Yohan Cabaye. And it was the perfect response to their FA Cup exit at Brighton and their heaviest defeat of the season at Fulham seven days earlier.

“Despite having key players missing, we came through a few tests and, while we had a few breaks, the result demonstrates the resilience of the side,” added Pardew.

The Newcastle boss had tried to have Ba and Cisse available for Wednesday’s game with the club even prepared to charter a plane for them to link up with the squad following their time with Senegal at the African Nations Cup.